Ruth Musembi
7 October 2008
opinion
Nairobi — THIS IS A REJOINDER TO A Complaint in the Nation (October 3) by one Allan Ngugi titled "Nema should be above harassment".
The National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) was established in 2002 as the principal instrument of Government in the implementation of all policies relating to the environment. Nema is mandated to exercise general supervision and coordination over all matters relating to the environment.
The rehabilitation of the Nairobi River basin is one of the flagship projects under Vision 2030. The clean-up and preservation of the river basin is a joint effort between the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, Nema, Government agencies and UN agencies.
As part of the clean-up, Nema started at source by addressing pollution emanating from Dagoretti slaughterhouses. Contrary to Mr Ngugi's view that these businesses were being targeted, they happened to be at the source of the river.
It would have been useless to clean downstream while pollution continued at source.Since the closure of the slaughter- houses in August, four have built waste water treatment plants and have been given a temporary approval to test-run the treatment plants for two months, after which Nema will ascertain their efficacy.
If they meet the required standards, the slaughter houses will be given a one-year renewable licence.
Under the Nairobi River Basin Programme, we are also working closely with partners in ensuring the decommissioning of the Dandora dumpsite, the establishment of waste transfer stations, and eventually the development of a sanitary landfill to replace the dumpsite.
We are ensuring appropriate waste separation, transportation, disposal and recycling. We have since given improvement orders to slaughterhouses at Kiserian, Kiamaiko, Njiru and other parts.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED more than 250 sewage discharge points along Nairobi River and have issued improvement orders to the owners of factories and other facilities discharging waste into the environment.
So far, some have stopped discharging raw sewage into the river while the rest are working to meet Nema's deadline.
Our operations have also extended to estates which have no sewer systems. Most developers have not installed systems to deal with the waste water. Consequently, raw sewage flows onto the environment, endangering people's lives.
Our operations have covered Mlolongo, Ongata Rongai, and Zimmerman estates. The operations will continue until all environmental issues are addressed.
The improvement orders given require flat owners to rectify the situation by building septic tanks where there is none; and in the case of small septic tanks, building larger ones with the capacity to accommodate waste water from the tenants - a reasonable request for the health of the tenants.
Nema is working in partnership with the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company and the Athi Water Services Board who have committed themselves to investing in sewer infrastructure expansion and improvement.
It is important to note that the Environmental Management and Coordination Act allows Nema to act in cases of environmental degradation where the responsible lead agency (ministry or department of Government) has failed.
The intervention by Nema in tackling environmental and sanitation issues at Dagoretti slaughterhouses is therefore fully within our mandate. We will continue such interventions where necessary to ensure that Kenyans lead healthy lives. Ms Musembi is the chief corporate communication manager of Nema
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